Memphis man convicted in teen sex trafficking case

Updated
9:01 pm EST, Thursday, February 25, 2016

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The U.S. Attorney in New Orleans says a Tennessee man has been convicted on eight counts involving sex trafficking.

In a Thursday news release, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite (poh-LEET') said 25-year-old Timothy Jones of Memphis was convicted for bringing two teenage girls to New Orleans to have them engage in prostitution. Prosecutors said Jones used violence and fraud to coerce the girls to participate.

Jones recruited a 17-year-old from Baton Rouge to work for him in the sex trade in 2013. She escaped from him after three weeks.

A 16-year-old recruited in Memphis in 2014 was taken first to Kentucky and found by U.S. marshals in New Orleans last year, when Jones was arrested.

Jones faces from 15 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for June 29.